• Four disk views of different areas of the Moon, with the disk views seen at the highest point of brightness on the Moon. Darker areas represent basalt rock.
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    High Noon on the Moon
    The sunlight at noon minimizes shadows but enhances subtle differences in surface brightness. The dark material is mare basalt, a volcanic rock that formed when lava erupted and flooded large impact basins early in the Moon's history. The brightest features are ejecta, deposits and bright rays of material thrown from relatively recent impact craters. Notice how dissimilar the near (upper left) and far (lower left) sides appear.

    WAC Mosaic

  • Four disk views of different areas of the Moon, with the disk views seen at the highest point of brightness on the Moon. Darker areas represent basalt rock.

ID#:

WEB15285-2016

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NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center/Arizona State University

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